BYU Homecoming

We were invited to BYU Homecoming kick off...

Not cause I graduated from BYU..

(I did go one semester when I went to Israel study abroad)

It is the 50th Anniversary of the Harris Fine Arts Center

Riley met me for the festivities.

(Sam had to work)

It was quite a party!

Then we went to a fancy luncheon.

It was fun to see some of my cousins.

Janet is the family historian.  She keep us all informed.  

She emailed me to find out who "Matthew" was, her niece is in a family history class and they were seeing if they were related to anyone in the class.

Well she and Riley are second cousins.

 One never knows who you will meet.

Indexing Challenge was a success...sort of!

Thoughout the night we had over 50 people come to our house to index a batch.

Okay half of those were kids who ran around

and the server was overwhelmed and we had a hard time getting on and finding a batch

But we had a great time and a lot of new people learned about indexing.

That is success! 

From Family Search:

FamilySearch volunteers are amazing! On July 20th and 21st, FamilySearch indexers and arbitrators from around the world joined together to set an international record for the greatest number of indexing participants in a single day! We hoped to have an unprecedented 50,000 contributors in a 24 hour period. FamilySearch volunteers excelled, surpassing that goal by 16,511! That’s right—66,511 participants in one day! Incredible! We are grateful for the patience and persistence of many volunteers who faced technical difficulties due to an overwhelming response.

These generous indexers and arbitrators made a true difference. Each record and each name indexed and arbitrated matters. It only takes one to open the door to linking generations of families together. Without question, thousands of lives will be changed as a result of this day’s effort.

While the focus for this challenge was on the total number of participants, a tremendous amount of indexing and arbitration work was accomplished as well. Here are the results for the number of records indexed and arbitrated. 


Indexed: 4,682,746
Arbitrated: 941,932
Total Records Processed: 5.7 million 

Our ancestors deserve to be remembered. You can be proud to be the one who made the difference for someone else who is looking for their ancestors. Because of you, they will know the joy of adding a new branch to their family tree. Thank you!


And keep indexing! More names and stories-especially from obituaries-are ready to be indexed by you and discovered by researchers worldwide. One volunteer, one document, one name can make all the difference to someone looking for his or her family.

FamilySearch indexing: Worldwide Indexing Event

50,000 indexers and arbitrators. 24 hours. One history-making event. All that is needed is YOU!

On July 2, 2012, a total of 49,025 FamilySearch indexers and arbitrators joined together to set the all-time record for the most indexing participants in a single day. That lofty record is about to be broken-by you! 

Join volunteers from around the world on July 20 and 21 for an international history-making event! The goal? For 50,000 indexers and arbitrators to submit at least one batch in a 24-hour period! Do more if you would like, but one batch is all that is required to be counted in the record!  

This remarkable goal will require help from every current indexer and arbitrator, plus many new volunteers,* but it can be achieved if generous volunteers like you commit to participate. So mark your calendar, and spread the word! Invite friends and family to join you. Organize an indexing party; create a fun family challenge or ward service project. Everyone is needed. Everyone can make a difference! 

Need more motivation? No matter where you live or what language you speak, you can lift where you stand and add to this historic worldwide achievement. You may choose to work on any project you prefer. However, we suggest that you work on the following projects in your native language:

• US-Obituaries, 1980-2014
• US-Passport Applications, 1795-1925
• US, New Orleans-Passenger Lists, 1820-1902
• UK, Manchester-Parish Registers, 1787-1999

The record-setting begins at which is 6:00 p.m. mountain daylight time (MDT or Utah time) on Sunday, July 20. It ends 24 hours later 5:59 p.m. MDT on Monday, July 21. Check the FamilySearch Facebook event page for your local start time and status updates. 

Through the selfless efforts of worldwide volunteers like you, millions of people have found their ancestors and received temple ordinances on their behalf. At the end of this exciting 24-hour event, millions more records will be available and ancestors will be found! 

One batch is all it takes. Don’t miss your chance on July 20 and 21 to be part of this history-making event! Plan now to get involved and add your name to the record-setting legacy! 

Thank you for helping to hasten the work of salvation!

*New indexers can visit https://familysearch.org/indexing/ to learn more about how to join the FamilySearch indexing effort. 

I will be doing a batch on Sunday July 20th.

In fact we are having a "DI" party at our house.

"Dessert and Indexing"

Join the fun where ever you are!

Index a batch in the 24 hour period.

Make a difference to Hasten the Work of Salvation!

Small World

Many years ago, I served a mission in Hong Kong.

My first companion in the MTC was May Mong.

We used to laugh a lot about the fact that we were learning "Chinese"

We did learn enough to get by.

I have this new "Church Calling" - Family History.

It is a whole new program since I last had the calling.

They have called several of us to learn and do this.

I go to my first "training meeting"  

We were a titch late... Mike came with me.

I am sure it was his fault.

Well the guy in the hall tells us Sister Mong is here.

During the training I look over and think... Hmm she looks familiar.

I look at my phone and check the directory.

"May Mong" is in our ward!

Well it is the same May Mong.

I have not seen her since the MTC.

...a few years back.

Now we are laughing together again as we learn Family History.

If we learned Chinese together we can surely learn this new Family History.

Indexing...

 Okay, I know I am slow to join this indexing band wagon.

It took a new church calling to get me started.

I am now a Ward Family History Consultant.

I really was loving being the Sunbeam teacher, but life is full of fun and changes.

This last Sunday I decided I better sign on and do some indexing.

Well now I am converted.

I think everyone should do some indexing.
You can do it in small bits of time.

Riley started yesterday.

You download the program and get this cute icon on your computer!

Click here to learn more and get started. 

It is a fun & easy way to make a difference in the Family History World.